When I left my job at a tech startup years ago, I realized that I wanted to do something different.
I was afraid of changing lanes, but I decided to go for it anyway. I did a lot of research, took crash courses, networked with people, built up my portfolio, applied to jobs, and pitched to clients.
But all I got was crickets.
Freedom is like money. If you don’t plan how to spend it — and you don’t stick to that plan — you’ll waste it fast.
Back in September 2019, I quit my job and freelance projects to write my first novel. I gave myself 6–8 months to focus. I had enough in the bank to survive, so I thought I’d get back to work after I finish the book.
But 6 months later, I still didn’t have a book or a full novel draft.
I knew I wasn’t living life well, squandering my youth at a boring job I hated. But the full realization came at a chance meeting with old friends. Meeting old friends is like bumping into your past self, some parts good and some bad, obscured by age and forgotten with time and new habits. They remind you of old dreams, old convictions, old passions.